“I suffered alone, I bled severely for weeks when I was cut on my sacred place.” Penina Samwel Mgosi has a gentle face, two soft dimples on each cheek. Her smile comes easily. But as she recollects the events that shaped the woman she would become, her brown eyes darken. The fear, as she readied …
“I just feel the scar. I know that it is a lifetime scar.” Read More »
In April, the Kraaifontein branch of Beyond the Bars, Sonke’s support group and community action team of former inmates, participated in an intensive theatre and performance workshop with the goal of empowering former inmates to tell their stories and initiate advocacy around prisons and re-integration in their community. The workshop included physical theatre, photography, writing …
Ninety-four Sonke Gender Justice staff members from Cape Town, Johannesburg and Bushbuckridge travelled from their respective cities to Crawford Lodge in the Wild Coast, Eastern Cape, for the organisation’s 10 year anniversary team building project. For the duration of a week – from February 20 to February 24 – staff enjoyed important discussions on the …
In South Africa, as in most countries, social and economic policies continue to reflect and reinforce the link between fatherhood and work, and motherhood and care. Providing leave for fathers is one way to encourage men’s increased participation in caregiving as well as a more equal division of household labour between men and women. It …
Over its 16 years of existence, Kagisano Women’s Shelter has been a refuge for many women experiencing gender-based violence in the small southern African country of Botswana. The work of the shelter resonates with participants enrolled in the two-week intensive Women’s Health, Empowerment and Masculinities: Policy Advocacy Training that MenEngage Africa is currently offering in …
September 6th 2016, Day 6 of the Women’s Health, Empowerment and Masculinities: Policy Advocacy Training, saw participants exploring what positive masculinity really is. The day started with guest facilitator, Bafana Khumalo, Director of Strategic Partnerships at Sonke Gender Justice (Sonke) and co-founder of the organisation, leading a discussion around Men, HIV and Gender Norms. Participants …
The definition of gender, gender norms and identity formed the basis of lessons and discussions at the opening of the two-week Women’s Health, Masculinities and Empowerment – Advocacy Policy Training, which is currently underway in Gaborone, Botswana, from the 1st until the 14th of September 2016. Course director, Paula Tavrow, outlined the key themes of …
Sonke and the South African National Taxi Council have launched the Safe Ride campaign – aimed at preventing abuse of women and girls by taxi personnel.
A look at the first three days of events and demonstrations taking place at this year’s International AIDS Conference, being held in Durban, South Africa.
Several delegates participating in the 21st International AIDS Conference in Durban answer the question: “What needs to be done to get to ZERO in 2030?”
The Kenya MenEngage Alliance taps into the transformative potential of sport to send a positive message to Kenya’s youth.
Kenya MenEngage Alliance has collaborated with religious organisations to host a workshop to sensitise religious leaders on prevention of GBV.
The South Gauteng High Court has certified the commencement of the largest class action lawsuit in South Africa’s history.
As MenEngage Africa’s capacity building meeting draws to a close, discussion continues around three themes: ending child marriages, female genital mutilation, and improving access to HIV prevention and treatment services.
MenEngage Africa’s workshop with faith-based community organisations on gender-based violence draws to a close.
MenEngage Africa’s workshop with faith-based community organisations on gender-based violence enters its second day.
Members of the MenEngage Africa alliance in East Africa meet with faith-based community organisations to conduct advocacy training and discuss strategies to mobilise the faith-based sector against GBV.
The Kenya MenEngage Alliance participated in a marathon to create awareness and raise funds for the Beyond Zero Campaign, which was launched by the First Lady of Kenya, Margaret Kenyatta.
MenEngage DRC and Congo Men’s Network co-host an event with the purpose of encouraging reconciliation and cooperation between estranged spouses.
MenEngage DRC are hosting a community mobilisation event in the city of Goma aimed at engaging men and boys in rethinking notions of masculinity.
MenEngage Africa’s Secretariat Strategic Planning meeting moves into its second and final day.
Members of the MenEngage Africa alliance met to discuss successes and pitfalls encountered in their work, and to craft a comprehensive plan of action for the following months.
Men and women were invited to discuss how the culture of child marriage has affected their lives, as well as share their insights and experiences.
Discussing the disproportionately low uptake of HIV services among men, and how insufficiently inclusive AIDS response policies may be partially responsible for the problem.
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